Dustin Hoffman's directorial duties was uncredited for 1978s Straight Time. Therefore Quartet is his proper directing debut.
Given his reputation as the enfant terrible of the method acting school in the 1970s and 80s, Quartet is an unlikely story for Hoffman to direct.
Hoffman has gathered Maggie Smith, Tom Courtney, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins as patients in a retirement home putting on a show in this case an operatic and musical one to raise funds for the home for retired performers.
It is a genteel, slight film and a kind of thing you feel you have seen it all before. The acting is fine not only from the main stars but also many of the supporting and smaller roles all veteran performers of stage and screen.
Smith plays a retired star who is adjusting to life in the home, she is a new arrival and she has history with Courtney's character as they were once married. The trouble is we saw Smith play a new arrival in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as well. Although she was less posh in and more embittered in that one.
Connolly plays his part with relish as the randy retiree, Collins character is suffering from dementia as she has frequent lapses. It's enjoyable but very unrealistic.
They all seem to be too energetic to live in a retirement home as well as the home being very opulent. I have stayed at 5 star hotels that is less luxurious than this retirement home.
Given his reputation as the enfant terrible of the method acting school in the 1970s and 80s, Quartet is an unlikely story for Hoffman to direct.
Hoffman has gathered Maggie Smith, Tom Courtney, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins as patients in a retirement home putting on a show in this case an operatic and musical one to raise funds for the home for retired performers.
It is a genteel, slight film and a kind of thing you feel you have seen it all before. The acting is fine not only from the main stars but also many of the supporting and smaller roles all veteran performers of stage and screen.
Smith plays a retired star who is adjusting to life in the home, she is a new arrival and she has history with Courtney's character as they were once married. The trouble is we saw Smith play a new arrival in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as well. Although she was less posh in and more embittered in that one.
Connolly plays his part with relish as the randy retiree, Collins character is suffering from dementia as she has frequent lapses. It's enjoyable but very unrealistic.
They all seem to be too energetic to live in a retirement home as well as the home being very opulent. I have stayed at 5 star hotels that is less luxurious than this retirement home.